Information on Water Quality, Geology, Soils, and other resources that relate to the water quality of rivers, lakes, and streams in western North Carolina.
North Carolina River Basins (NC Division of Water Quality)
Detailed data can be accessed by clicking on any one of the 17 river basins shown on the NC River Basin map. Jackson County is part of the Little Tennessee River Basin.
Little Tennessee River Basin Overview
The Little Tennessee River Basin includes all of the areas (watersheds) of Western North Carolina with streams that eventually flow into the Little Tennessee River. This includes the Cheoah, Nantahala, Upper Cullasaja, Tuckasegee, Cullasaja and Little Tennessee Rivers and their tributaries. The larger lakes include Lakes Glenville, Nantahala, Santeetlah and Fontana. This website contains information about the rivers and water bodies that make up the Little Tennessee River Basin, water quality issues, recommended management strategies for restoring "impaired" waters, etc.
Maps
Google Earth
Little Tennessee River Basin
Cullowhee Creek Watershed
Water Quality
USGS North Carolina Stream Flow
- Interactive Real-time Data Retrieval Map
NC Division of Water Quality
- 2002 Little Tennessee River Basinwide Water Quality Plan
USGS Water Data for the Nation
Research
- River Restoration Case Studies: Little Tennessee River Basin
Environmental Protection
- North Carolina Cooperative Extension
The North Carolina Cooperative Extension offers a range of educational programs covering water quality, waste management, wildlife management, collaborative problem-solving and more.
- Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory
The Coweeta Watershed is located in Otto, North Carolina, and contains 5600 acres of mountain land divided into distinct small drainages. Among other things, the research laboratory studies how forests affect creeks that flow through them.
- Little Tennessee Watershed Association
This group of local scientists, conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts implement strategies to improve water quality and habitat in the Little Tennessee watershed.
- Cullasaja River Project
A brief overview of the Cullasaja River Watershed, which is part of the Little Tennessee River Basin.
- Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition Inc.
The Hiwassee River Watershed includes Lakes Chatuge (Georgia-North Carolina line), Nottely (in Georgia), Hiwassee and Appalachia (North Carolina) all of which are popular destinations for tourists and environmentalists. In order to protect and maintain the environment, the watershed coalition provides water quality education, funding for and implementation of voluntary watershed restoration projects, watershed planning, etc.
- Watershed Association of the Tuckaseegee River
The Watershed Association of the Tuckaseegee River (WATR) is a citizen-based group dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the health and quality of the Tuckaseegee River and its watershed.
- Jackson County Planning Office
The Jackson County Planning Department oversees issues of land use, planning, code enforcement and other regulatory programs that guide future growth and development within the county
- Jackson County Green Energy Park
The Jackson County Green Energy Park (JCGEP) is a landfill recovery program that offers environmental protection, educational opportunities, and increased economic development to the community through the utilization of landfill gas (LFG) and other clean, renewable energy resources.
Geological & Soil Data
- NASA Earth Sciences Information: http://wwwghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/
- NASA Hydro-Soils Data
- Historical Soil Survey Data of NC: http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/historicalmaps/soilsurvey/North%20Carolina/north%20carolina.html
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (North Carolina) Soil Survey Data/Maps: http://www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/soilsurvey/index.html
- NASA Remote Sensing Data & Information: http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/rsd/RemoteSensing.html
- NC State, GIS Data List: http://kamala.cod.edu/nc/
- Natural Resources Conservation Service – Emergency Watershed Program
- Soil and Water Conservation, Jackson Co., North Carolina
Climate Data
- Weather Links from Hunter Library, WCU: http://www.wcu.edu/1762.asp
- State Climate Office, NC: http://www.nc-climate.ncsu.edu/
- National Climatic Data Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html
- NOAA, National Weather Service, Data by State: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/states.php
- National Weather Service, Forecast Office: http://www.weather.gov/climate/local_data.php?wfo=rah
- Southeastern Regional Climate Center: http://www.sercc.com/
- North Carolina Weather Page (links): http://kamala.cod.edu/nc/
Local Issues
The following articles from various sources have to do with local area issues related to river sites and streams, the environment, and growth of Jackson County:
- Dillsboro Dam Removal, Executive Summary (Nantahala Power, 10/23/2003)
- Area Residents Speak Their Mind About Removal of Dillsboro Dam (The Sylva Herald, 2/19/2004)
- Shooting Range Ordinance (Jackson County Planning Board Meetings, 5/5/2005)
- Shooting Range Ordinance (Jackson County Planning Board Meetings, 6/2/2005)
- 'Science' Backs Dillsboro Dam Removal... (The Sylva Herald, 6/16/2005)
- Dozens Turn Out To Oppose Planned Tuckaseegee Quarry (The Sylva Herald, 8/3/2006)
- Dam Removal Process Faces Stiff Opposition (Smoky Mountain News, 7/18/2007)
- County, Duke still at odds over permits (The Sylva Herald, 4/16/2009)
- Small Town Wants To Save Its Hydropower (Green Energy News, 6/2/2009)
- Duke Prepares To Dredge Behind Dam (The Sylva Herald, 7/9/2009)